Adaptation: 2005 U.S. Cyclocross National Championships

Less than two weeks from the shortest day of the year and a low morning New England sun glares off the hard ice blanket hiding the race course for the 2005 U.S. Cyclocross National Championships, December 9-11 in Providence, Rhode Island.

The grass and pavement are gone for the moment, disappeared by a Nor’easter that showed up with wind, rain, sleet, and a healthy dump of snow the day before the racing begins. Only the omnipresent outline of course tape and a few wooden barriers give away that a bike race could be in the offing this weekend. But, you know, schedule a bike race for December in the Northeast and you’re taking your chances. These things happen, and being ‘cross, you better not complain about it.

If you can’t deal with these chicanes, this mud, and this ice, the course yells at you on your first lap, you better find yourself another sport. Because this ‘cross, with the stars-and-stripes jersey on the line, is all about adaptation: not getting freaked out when your custom-made French tires slip perilously on a slurry of slush, leafs, and thawing mud. Not giving up when you hit the deck or get a bad start.

Prepare yourself and it might work out. Just enough clothing, but not too much. Some warming balm to keep the muscles supple even as they’re blasted with slush and mud. An extra bike in the pits should your primary ride succumb to bad piloting or the whims of course demons. Be ready for anything. If you’re racing your bike in December in the first place, you probably understand all this anyway.

TODD BALL
Todd Wells knows he’s got luck on his side. The mud and snow are right up his alley, but there’s enough hard pedaling for his fresh legs to do their thing. He bolts off the front of the race on lap one of the hour-long adventure, a thundering pack of Elite Men chasing him into the muck. It’s an 60 minutes on the rivet for Wells, dancing through the slop, drilling it out of every corner and up every rise. Light on the brakes and heavy on the pedals, Wells never checks behind him, a small statement of internal confidence.

He knew he would have company at the front, but he expected the guest list to be bigger. Brought low by a bad bout of food poisoning the night before the race, Jonathan Page, the three-time defending U.S. National Champion, struggles in Wells’ wake, months of hard guy race preparation in Europe brought low by some stray bacteria.

And while fellow mountain bike pro Ryan Trebon fights his bike back to Wells’ wheel a couple times, he’s always the frustrated hound and never the elusive fox. Trebon’s face shows effort just as Wells looks like he’s having fun, doing everything but making motorcycle noises as he rails muddy corners, dragging his feet through the deep snow instead of using his brakes. With enough time to dismount and walk his bike across the finish line, a mud-covered Wells knows enough to enjoy the moment. Just enough luck and perfect preparation doesn’t come along too often.

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
From the last row of the Elite Women’s starting grid, a veritable Bermuda Triangle for championship contenders, Kate Compton is at home. Only a year earlier, as a total unknown in American ‘cross, Compton had taken the exact same situation and turned it on its head, winning the 2004 Nationals despite starting well behind all the pre-race favorites. An arcane rule, punishing Compton for not doing the right races during the season, dumps her right back in the same position for 2005, despite her obvious qualifications. But strength is strength and a course like this rewards the strong.

Before one lap is in the books, and with the crowds still trying to figure out who’s who, Compton is gone. With a fixed expression, eyes hidden behind her Oakleys, she diesels into the bog of softening snow and turf. Mud flies off her rear tire, her seated race position all big watts and churning efficiency. No effort is wasted as her lead grows with each passing lap.

Powers displays the skills the rest of us wish we possessed.

‘Cross vet Ann Knapp does all she can, but she knows the jig is up: Not even a last row start can derail Compton. The Women’s field in tatters, ripped to bits by her pace and the leg-breaking conditions, Compton glides to the finish as inscrutable in victory as she was in effort. A small smile dances across her face, the sun ducking behind clouds to the west.

Long shadows start to reclaim the course, the ground firming back up as the temperature drops down. A quiet mud ribbon spirals through a now-empty park in Rhode Island. Sleds can now reclaim the hills for a more appropriate winter fun, a fun in which the sun’s shine off ice is a welcome occasion..

Wells: the face of victory.

2005 Liberty Mutual U.S. Cyclocross National Championships
Providence, RI
Elite Men
1. Todd Wells, GT Hyundai, 59.03
2. Ryan Trebon, Kona, at 0.14
3. Jonathan Page, Liberty Mutual, at 1.52
4. Adam Craig, Giant/Pearl Izumi, at 2.13
5. Tim Johnson, Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau, at 3.11
6. Barry Wicks, Kona, at 3.34
7. Erik Tonkin, Kona, at 4.33
8. Tristan Schouten, Trek/VW, at 5.00
9. Mark McCormack, Clif Bar, at 5.16
10. Jonathan Baker, Primus Mootry Racing, at 5.34

Elite Women
1. Katie Compton, Redline, 39:55
2. Ann Knapp, Kona, at 1:32
3. Maureen Bruno Roy, Independent Fabrication, 2:38
4. Rhonda Mazza, Team S&M/Vanilla Bicycles, 3:05
5. Melissa Thomas, Tokyo Joes/Golite, 3:23
6. Barbara Howe, Velo Bella, 4:02
7. Georgia Gould, Kona, 4:24
8. Brigette Stoick, Rivercity Bicycles, 6:11
9. Amy Wallace, Verizon Wireless Wheelworks, 6:35
10. Josie Beggs, Starbucks-Ca Giants-Specialized, 6:39

To see more of Chris Milliman's impressive stock of writing and photography go to www.chrismilliman.com